Ringers

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ALANM
Posts: 96
Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:57 pm
Location: North Queensland

Ringers

Post by ALANM » Sat Oct 09, 2021 9:38 am

RINGERS
(By Alanm September 2021)

Out where the land is dry cracked and dusty
to the ranges up north in the Kimberley.
Where green grass grows, high up in the mountains
and rivers tumble and roar down ravines.

Out on broad plains where the Flinders grass waves
to the channels that snake down the Coopers.
Where stony ridges descend to shiftin’ sand hills
and spiny spinifex spreads out on low ridges.

Out where the cattlemen, in old homesteads reside
to the high plains that flank the divide.
Where the forested valleys of the high tableland
cede to dry gullies and rivers of sand.

From Saltbush covered ground of the far western plains
to wooded valleys, once cut by the Flinders.
Where vast Black Soil plains spreadin’ out to horizon
rise to jump-ups of Basalt and Iron.

Where the Roper’s deep channels wind their way to the sea
and the scrubbers run fast, wild and free.
Where the shimmerin’ mirage of the mighty Strzelecki
reveals fat cattle…. lazin’ ‘round Merty Merty.

Where the channels are framed by Gidgee and Mulga
and run dry or run high…. their banks spillin’ over.
Where the fog covered Vales way down in the Gippsland
hear the cattle dogs barking, in the frost covered land.

There’s Ringers at work, musterin’ Cattle and brandin’
drivin’ tractors and gettin’ the hay in.
There’s Ringers fixin’ fences and swingin’ new gates
on stations and farms ‘round the states.

There’s Ringers there workin’, sun-up to sun-down
ridin’ boundaries and drivin’ the bore run.
Ringers loadin’ road trains with stock for the saleyards
and trainin’ stock horses in round yards.

Ringers don’t get paid much, ain’t no overtime
it’s the love of the bush and the pastime.
But wherever there’s work to be done on the land
there you’ll find a Ringer, lendin’ a hand.

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Shelley Hansen
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sun May 04, 2014 5:39 pm
Location: Maryborough, Queensland
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Re: Ringers

Post by Shelley Hansen » Wed Oct 13, 2021 3:51 pm

Another well-drawn word picture, Alan.
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")

ALANM
Posts: 96
Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:57 pm
Location: North Queensland

Re: Ringers

Post by ALANM » Tue Nov 30, 2021 2:18 pm

Thanks Shelley,
Appreciate your comments,
Cheers Alanm

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